Stupid Questions (there's no such thing): Tanning

No, sadly neither one does. Fake tan colours the very top layer of your skin, but it gives no meaningful protection from UV, so your skin is just as likely to burn as it was before.

A base tan from the sun or a sunbed is also no shield. Any tan from UV is a sign your skin has already been damaged, and it will not stop you burning. The lovely news is that a fake tan gives you the glow with none of that damage. Keep wearing a broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and reapply it through the day.

It depends on the solution used, so your tanning professional will give you an exact time. Rapid or express tans are usually rinsed after one to four hours, and classic solutions are usually left on for around eight to twelve hours, often overnight.

For that first shower, use lukewarm water only, with no shower gel, and let it run until the water is clear. Pat yourself dry with a dark towel. The colour carries on deepening for a day or two afterwards, so try to wait before deciding on your final shade.

That cosy biscuit smell is the tan working. The active ingredient is a natural sugar that reacts with proteins in the top layer of your skin to make brown colour. It is a gentle version of the same browning that happens when bread toasts, and it releases a similar toasty scent as it goes.

Warmth, sweat and the natural oils on your skin make it stronger, which is why you might notice it most overnight or after a busy day. The smell fades once you have had your first rinse.

Usually because the shade is a little too deep for your natural skin tone. Fake tan develops warmer on fair skin, so a lighter shade often looks more natural and more brown.

A few other things can warm up the colour too: soaps and shower gels with a high pH, leftover moisturiser or deodorant, and very dry areas like knees and ankles soaking up extra product. A trained tanning professional will match the shade and depth to your skin and talk you through simple prep. Give it a full day to settle before you judge it, as the colour keeps developing.

Before. Shave about 24 hours ahead, and if you are having a wax, book it at least 24 hours before your tan. Exfoliate gently 24 to 48 hours beforehand too, so the tan settles on fresh, smooth skin.

On the day itself, arrive with clean skin and nothing else to do. If you are booking several treatments for an event, the tan is always the last one. Afterwards, wait until you have had your first rinse before shaving again, and use a fresh blade with gentle strokes so your glow lasts.

Moisturise in the days before your tan, because hydrated skin takes colour more evenly. On the day, leave your skin bare so the tan can develop properly, as a layer of lotion can stop the colour taking.

Some tanning professionals like a tiny touch of light, oil free moisturiser or barrier cream on the driest spots, such as elbows, knees, ankles, knuckles and feet, to stop them grabbing extra colour. They will often apply this for you. Once you have rinsed, moisturise every day to keep your tan looking fresh.

No, you can wear whatever you feel comfortable in. Some people wear disposable briefs, which most salons provide, some wear old underwear or swimwear, and some choose to wear nothing. Your tanning professional sees bodies every day and will simply make sure you are covered the way you prefer.

For the journey home, bring loose, dark clothing, flip flops or open shoes, and leave the tight jeans and bra straps for another day. Wear any bra loosely or skip it until after your first rinse, and tie your hair up.

Yes, fake tan is approved for use on the skin and is a much kinder choice than tanning in the sun. With a spray tan, it is best to keep the mist out of your eyes, nose and mouth, so you may be offered eye protection, nose filters and lip balm in a well ventilated room.

In pregnancy, tanning lotions are generally thought to be fine, although they have not been studied in detail. Many health advisers suggest skipping spray tans until after the baby arrives, mainly to avoid breathing in the mist. Please speak to your midwife, GP or doctor first.

Do not worry, that is completely normal. Most tans contain a temporary guide colour that shows where the product has gone on. Some include a green or olive tone to balance out warmth, so as that guide colour washes away, the water and your skin can look a little green for a moment.

Your real tan is underneath, and it carries on developing to a soft brown over the next day or so. Deodorant left on the skin can also make underarms look greenish, which is why it is best to skip it on tan day.

Your tanning professional will usually put a little barrier cream on your palms and between your fingers before spraying, then wipe your palms clean straight afterwards. Keep your fingers spread while you dry, and try not to touch too much until your first rinse.

If you are self tanning at home, a tanning mitt is your best friend. Wipe your palms, the sides of your hands and your nails with a damp cloth or wipe as soon as you finish, then blend the backs of your hands lightly with whatever is left on the mitt.

Yes, most people love a matching glow from head to toe. Faces often take colour faster than the body, so a lighter mist or a dedicated face tan works beautifully.

Fake tan does not usually cause spots, but heavy oils and fragrance in some formulas can trouble oily or blemish prone skin. Tell your tanning professional about your skin so they can choose a lighter, oil free or non comedogenic option. If you have a skin condition or breakouts that worry you, it is worth chatting to your GP, doctor or pharmacist.

Not straight away, but they can help it fade a little sooner. Before your first rinse, give sweaty workouts a miss, as sweat can leave streaks while the tan is still developing. After that, waiting about a day before the gym or pool gives the colour time to settle.

Chlorine and salt water speed up fading, so rinse off with fresh water after a swim, pat dry and moisturise. Wiping sweat with a soft towel rather than rubbing helps too. A gentle routine will keep you glowing for longer.

Around a week to ten days, and sometimes up to two weeks with lovely aftercare. Fake tan colours the outer layer of your skin, which naturally sheds, so it always fades gradually.

To keep it going, moisturise every day with an oil free lotion, keep showers short and lukewarm, and pat your skin dry. Choose a gentle body wash and save scrubs and exfoliating acids until you are ready for the tan to come off. A gradual tanning lotion a few days in is a lovely way to top up your glow.

It is not a recognised medical condition, but the feeling is very real. Your tan can genuinely develop differently from one time to the next. Skin pH, hormones, some medicines, skin conditions, the weather and even a new body wash can all change how deeply the colour takes.

Sometimes it is simply that your eyes have adjusted to seeing yourself glowing. A tanning professional can look at your prep, your products and the solution and adjust things for you. If you have started a new medicine and are curious, your pharmacist is happy to help.

Partly. For your very first rinse, use water only. After that, you can wash as normal with a gentle, pH balanced, sulfate free body wash.

Harsh soaps, foaming washes and anything with exfoliating ingredients can lift the colour sooner, so they are best saved for when you want the tan to fade. Keep showers short and lukewarm, and pat dry rather than rubbing. Your skin stays clean, and your tan stays lovely.

Yes, of course. Before your first rinse, the guide colour can transfer a little onto sheets and onto anyone you cuddle up to, so it helps to sleep in long, loose, dark pyjamas and pop an old sheet or dark towel over your pillow.

Skin to skin contact before that first rinse can smudge your tan, so your partner might wake up with a faint glow of their own. The guide colour usually washes out of bedding easily. Once you have rinsed, snuggle up as much as you like.

Tears happen, and that is completely fine. Before your first rinse, tears can leave little lighter tracks through the colour on your cheeks while the tan is still developing.

If you feel them coming, dab gently with a soft tissue rather than wiping, and keep a few tissues with you on tan day. If you do spot a few marks once your tan has developed, your tanning professional can usually blend them for you. Happy tears at an event are much less likely to show once your tan is rinsed and settled.

Yes, lightly, so there are no pale patches when you lift your arms or slip on sandals. Your tanning professional will ask you to raise your arms and will give your underarms a soft, even mist. These warm areas can develop deeper, so a light touch is all they need. Skip deodorant on the day.

For your feet, barrier cream on the nails, heels and sides of the feet keeps the colour soft and even, and the tops of your toes get a gentle mist. Wear flip flops or open shoes home.

Pack an umbrella and wear long, loose clothes that cover your arms and legs, and a little rain will not be a problem. Drops of water on your skin before your first rinse can leave small spots, so covering up is the easiest plan.

If you do get caught out, pat the drops away gently with a soft towel or tissue rather than rubbing. Small marks often blend in as the tan develops. If anything still stands out, your tanning professional will be happy to help you even it out.

Yes, once your tattoo has fully healed, tan right over it. Black ink looks the same, and coloured ink may look a touch warmer or softer until the tan fades.

A new tattoo needs to heal completely first, which usually takes at least three weeks, so check with your tattoo artist before booking. If you are getting a new tattoo soon, let the tan fade from that area first, or gently remove it, so your artist has clean skin to work on.

A little guide colour can transfer before your first rinse, so loose, dark clothing is perfect for the journey home and the rest of that day. Tight waistbands and straps can also rub the developing tan, so loose is lovely all round.

Once you have rinsed, very little comes off, and any marks usually wash out of most fabrics. Moisturise and let your lotion sink in for a few minutes before dressing to keep your favourite whites looking fresh.